Friday, January 31, 2014

You've probably seen the Chevy "A man. A man and his truck. A man, his truck, and..." commercials. Well, Chevy has a new one (Romance) for that Super Bowl in which Vencil Mares and his Taylor Cafe make an appearance. He's sitting in his chair, all still and quiet, as usual. Hat tip to @naizer, who sent me the video via Twitter last night.

Thursday, January 30, 2014

As you might know from this blog or elsewhere, Hays Co. Bar-B-Que recently left its location on Hunter Road for a spot on the Southbound I-35 frontage road (1612 S. IH 35). This Saturday, they're hosting a grand re-opening. From 11AM-10PM, you can enjoy the regular menu, with various food & drink specials, along with live music. The headliner is Marty White with Blue Clear Sky, a George Strait cover band.Speaking of Hays Co., our February public Texas Q Tours trip is stopping there. On Feb 22, we head to Hays Co. Bar-B-Que, Black's Barbecue, Root Cellar Cafe (drinks), & Centerpoint Station (desserts). If you'd like an all-inclusive seat, our Mix-&-Match promotion gets you $35 off the trip! Instead of $125, tickets via the promotion are just $90! And if you book 2 more tickets, we offer another deal (Email to inquire.) More trip info.

Tuesday, January 28, 2014

95. Bubba's Texas Style Bar-B-Que & Saloon (2 locations in Sanghai, China) - "There are very few people in Texas who'll agree on exactly what defines Texas-style bar-b-que. Many will say we are a State of beef eaters, which is true, but we also cook a lot of pork, chicken, cabrito, fish, and sausage. Some will say “it’s not Texas bar-b-que if it has sauce on it,” while many others love to wet down a rack of ribs while they’re still smoking on the pit. One thing is for sure: we love our bar-b-que….we love to argue about it, we love to cook it, we love to perfect it, we love to compete with it, and most of all, we love to eat it. What makes Texas bar-b-que different from bar-b-que in other states? Not much really, other than state lines, pride, and the various cuts of meat and sauce style that is more popular from one area to another. One other thing, however, is for sure: most bar-b-que “aficionados” will agree that steaks, hamburgers and hotdogs cooked over a gas grill are not bar-b-que. Authentic American-style bar-b-que is cooked “low and slow” using real wood to tenderize and impart a very unique flavor to all types of meat. This is a flavor and experience you won't soon forget!"

Monday, January 27, 2014

Last week, we gave away a 5 gift certificates from the kind folks at Baker's Ribs (Weatherford, TX). This week, we're giving away a rack of pork ribs from Kerlin BBQ, one of the newest and hottest BBQ joints in Austin! In case you don't know, Kerlin BBQ is a trailer at 1700 E. Cesar Chavez (open Wed-Sun at 11AM), and it's been getting rave reviews. We are thankful for the generosity of proprietor Bill Kerlin, who made this giveaway possible. Here are the 4 ways to enter:Email usTweet usLeave a Facebook commentLeave a comment (with email address or Twitter handle) to this blog postYou are allowed to enter more than 1 way, so if you enter, say, all 4 ways, you get your name in the hat four times!All entries due by Friday. In the meantime, connect with Kerlin BBQ via Facebook & Twitter!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

Earlier this month, the Austin Chronicle held its inaugural Invitational BBQ Beef Rib Smackdown. I was graciously invited to judge but was out of town that day, so Man Upper Todd Plunk stepped in and reaped the juice, salty benefits. Soon, I'll post Todd's thoughts on the event, along with some pictures he took. Read all about the contest and learn more about beef ribs. Of all of the contestants, whose beef ribs do you like most?

Saturday, January 25, 2014

Rise & shine! Today, we're off on our 1st public Texas Q Tours trip of 2014. Today's stops will be for BBQ at Snow's (Lexington) and at Louie Mueller (Taylor), for drinks at El Monumento (Georgetown), and for dessert at Monument Cafe (Georgetown). You can follow our trip via Twitter: @ManUpTexasBBQ and @TexasQTours.

If you'd like to come with us on a future trip, we'd love that! We have scheduled public tours for February 22 and March 22, with more to come.

Friday, January 24, 2014

94. Texas Stockyards BBQ (Lady Lake, Florida) - "Texas Stockyards BBQ goes beyond the average and goes the extra mile to create an art form that instills flavor and tenderness that brings the true taste of Texas. It has taken us years of trial and error to perfect our flavors and techniques. We started are journey in putting our brand on BBQ in a small town in Texas outside of Houston. Our first BBQ came out of a trailer that was parked in front of a gas station. We sold an avg. of 1000lbs. a week and perfected our Texas style brand. The key to a true Texas style BBQ is the seasoning, rubs and mop sauces. The number one key ingredient to Texas BBQ is patience because to bring the flavor and tenderness you must cook with a hard wood indirect smoke and heat away from the meat at a slow and low temperature. We cook with temperatures of 160F to 190F. Some of the meats can take up to 16 to 18 hours. With true Texas style BBQ you look for that reddish red ring that naturally develops around the edge of the meat from the smoke during the cooking process. We never introduce anything but wood to any of our meats. That means we don't use gas, electric, and or wood chips. So the next time you have some good ole BBQ check to see if it was cooked the Texas way."

Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Last week, we gave away a whole brisket from our friends at Snow's BBQ (Lexington, TX). This week, thanks to the kind folks at Baker's Ribs (Weatherford, TX), we're giving away several gift certificates! In the order in which we will draw the winners' names, here are the prizes:

House Special Certificate - Choice of sandwich with 2 side orders & 1 soft drink (no alcohol). Good at Weatherford location only.

House Special Certificate - Choice of sandwich with 2 side orders & 1 soft drink (no alcohol). Good at Weatherford location only.

Dinner Certificate - Dinner for 2. Dinner includes choice of entree with 1 side order and 1 soft drink (no alcohol). Good at any Baker's Ribs location.

Dinner Certificate - Dinner for 2. Dinner includes choice of entree with 1 side order and 1 soft drink (no alcohol). Good at any Baker's Ribs location.

$50 Gift Certificate - Good at Weatherford location only.

So, we're going to have 5 winners! You have through Sunday to enter. There are 4 ways to enter. You are allowed to enter more than 1 way, so if you enter, say, all 4 ways, you get your name in the hat four times!Here are the 4 ways to enter:Email usTweet usLeave a Facebook commentLeave a comment (with contact info.) to this blog postAll entries due by Sunday. In the meantime, connect with Baker's Ribs (Weatherford) via Facebook & Twitter!

Monday, January 20, 2014

Yesterday, I announcedour third Texas Q Tours trip of 2014. On Saturday, March 22, we're heading to Spicewood to visit Opie's Barbecue, Cuvee Coffee, & Stone House Vineyard! Today, to celebrate the start of our 2014 tours, I'm giving away a 1 ticket each to 2 people. After midnight tonight, I will draw 2 names from a hat. Each person whose name is drawn snags a FREE seat on the trip. To get your name in the hat, leave a comment below this post, leave a Facebook comment, tweet us, or email us. Do 1 of these, and your name's in the hat once. Two of these = twice. Three of these = three times. Do all four of these, and you're name's in the hat four times!

Sunday, January 19, 2014

In November, I announced amix-and-match tour promotion, in which you can choose among 5 BBQ joints we're visiting in early 2014, with lower prices per joint the more joints you choose. Two of these 5 joints will be part of our 1st public tour of 2014, and 2 others of the 5 will be part of our 2nd public tour of 2014. Today, I announce the date of the tour that includes the the last of the 5 joints: On Saturday, March 22, we're heading west to Spicewood for BBQ, coffee, & wine! Here's the itinerary (subject to change):Cuvee Coffee (Spicewood) - coffee tasting & roastery tourOpie's Barbecue (Spicewood) - BBQ meal & pit tourStone House Vineyard (Spicewood) - wine tastingThis trip will depart Austin around 10 AM (A light breakfast on the van is included.) and return around 3:30 PM (Times are estimates.). So, 5-6 hours of breakfast, coffee-roastery tour, BBQ, pit tour, wine tasting, & a designated driver, all included in the price of the ticket!Seats are $75 each, BUT if you book via ourmix-and-match promotion, this trip is just $60, all-inclusive! A savings of $15 just for clicking on a different PayPal button!Tickets are non-refundable but transferable to another person for this trip. If you cannot find someone to take your place on the trip, you retain a trip credit in the amount of your purchase price that you may use for a future trip.

Saturday, January 18, 2014

Found out yesterday that CBQ Eatery in Schertz will close its doors for good on Sat, Jan 25, but will reopen in New Braunfels as CBQ Smokehouse. Here's the Facebook announcement from CBQ Eatery. The new place will be a full-service restaurant with full bar and will be located at Town Center at Creekside (I-35 & FM 306). You can already follow CBQ Smokehouse via Twitter and Facebook. And here are the pictures I took on my visit to CBQ Eatery back in Jan 2011.

Friday, January 17, 2014

93. Texas Joe's (London, England) - "Saddle up and head on down to Shoreditch for Joe's authentic Texas BBQ. A Mean and Tasty menu to satisfy the most canivorous [sic] of cravings, cooked slow and low over aged oak. Hook up with Joe and soak up some real Southern hospitality. This joint is jumpin'."